By IANS,
Ralegan Siddhi : Residents of Ralegan Siddhi, the village of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, took to a unique form of protest Thursday as they took to streets with buckets, refusing to take bath for the day.
“Not only the residents of Ralegan Siddhi, but all the residents of the Parner taluka (sub-district) refused to take bath today,” Shiv Sena legislator Vijay Avti told IANS.
“Annaji was not given any bathing facility in Tihar Jail. So, this is our way to protest against the government’s ridiculous behaviour with the Gandhian,” added Avti, who is observing a daylong fast in support of Hazare.
Around 50,000 residents of the sub-district came out of their houses with plastic, steel and aluminium buckets and shouted slogans in favour of Hazare.
Meanwhile, the famous dabbawallas of Mumbai also called to strike work Friday.
“We are breaking our 120-year-old tradition by not providing tiffins tomorrow (Friday). This is the least we can do to support Annaji who has been fasting for over 50 hours in inhuman conditions,” Nutan Dabbalwala Trust secretary Kiran Gavande said.
Over 5,000 dabbawals will take out a rally from Churchgate station to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai Friday to call for a stronger Lokpal Bill.
Silent protests, candlelight vigils, human chains, peace walks, car and bike rallies and torch rallies have been organised for the third day in a row after Hazare initiated protest in favour of a stronger Lokpal bill Tuesday.